Combined garment hanger and container

ABSTRACT

A combined garment hanger and container which in preferred embodiment comprises a unit having a flat base, upstanding inwardly converging front and rear panels; a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;shoulder&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; portion above said convergence; and a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;head&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; portion above the shoulders. Garments may be hung about the shoulder portion and/or on the head; alternatively, hats may be placed on the head. In addition, boots, umbrellas, etc. may be placed within the unit.

United States Patent [191 Guida Oct. 28, 1975 1 1 COMBINED GARMENTHANGER AND CONTAINER [76] Inventor: Carol Guida, 423 S. 13th St.,

Philadelphia, Pa. 19147 22 Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 433,808

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,142 4/1914 Fischer248/174 1,810,826 6/1931 Gray 248/163 X 1,931,521 10/1933 Ziemmerman248/174 X 1,947,746 2/1934 Thomson 248/174 X 2,016,421 10/1935 Eichner211/1 X 2,135,604 11/1938 Schwartz 248/156 2,153,566 4/1939 Jewett et21.... 206/44.11 UX 2,679,997 6/1954 Harris 248/174 3,126,237 3/1964Kirk 223/85 X 3,305,960 2/1967 Huey'et a1. 248/174 X 3,502,295 4/1970Sganga 248/174 X D49,328 7/1916 DeSantis D6/152 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 7,680 6/1927 Australia 211/1 1,233,147 5/1971 UnitedKingdom 211/1 1,178,740 1/1970 United Kingdom 211/1 269,473 9/1927United Kingdom 1. 248/174 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier AssistantExaminerThomas J. Holko Attorney, Agent, or FirmStuart S. Bowie [57]ABSTRACT A combined garment hanger and container which in preferredembodiment comprises a unit having a flat base, upstanding inwardlyconverging front and rear panels; a shoulder portion above saidconvergence; and a head portion above the shoulders. Garments may behung about the shoulder portion and/or on the head; alternatively, hatsmay be placed on the head. In addition, boots, umbrellas, etc. may beplaced within the unit.

1 Claim, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent' Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of33,915,305

FIG 4 US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,915,305

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,915,305

27 52 FIG 8 H 9 FIG I2 47 COMBINED GARMENT HANGER 'AND CONTAINERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to coat racks and togarment containers, especially for young children.

In the past, a few attempts have been made to provide garment hangers ina shape and form which would be unusually attractive to young children.See, forexample, Brosk U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,614 which shows anessentially two-dimensional doll-like figure which is designed tofunction as a garment hanger.

A somewhat simpler device is shown in U.S.-Pat. No. D194,267, whichappears to be a stand for receiving doll clothes.

Similarly, another two dimensional device is shown in U.S. Pat. No.D84,535 which depicts one form of a childs dressing stand.

Of somewhat more remote interest is U.S. Pat. No. 1,096,018 which showsa hanger with a portion cut to depict an attractive female head andchest. Apparently, this device has been utilized by salesmen.

However, the prior art has not sufficiently provided a device which canfunction as an attractive means whereby a child can hang his or hergarments on the device and place other associated articles such asboots, umbrellas, etc. It is a principal object of the present inventionto provide a novel device which functions both as a garment rack orhanger and a container for associated articles of the kind mentioned.

DRAWINGS,

FIG. I is'a front view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken from the rear of the said embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the said embodiment from the rightside of FIG. 1-.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of said embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken from the left side of the saidembodiment as viewed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view taken from the front of the said embodimentshowing part of the left side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the said embodiment taken from the frontand showing part of the right side thereof.

FIG. 8 is a view of one of the component parts of said invention,showing the front panel.

FIG. 9 is a view of another component of the said 7 preferredembodiment, namely, the head and shoulder insert.

FIG. 10 is a view of another of the component parts of said inventionshowing the rear panel.

FIG. 11 is a view of another component part of the assembly.

FIG. 12 is a view of yet another component part of the assembly.

- DETAILED DESCRIPTION .As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the combined garmenthanger and container of the present invention as represented by thepresent embodiment comprises a triangular unit generally designated 20.This unit has a front panel 21 and a rear panel 21. The panels 21 and21' extend upwardly from a base generally designated 23 and convergealong a horizontal line indicated by the dot and dash line 24. Above theline 24, the device is formed to provide shoulders 25 and 26, a neck 27and a head 28. If desired, as indicated in FIG. 1, the head may containa depiction of a human face, a clown or other drawing as an attractionto the small children for whom the device is primarily designed.

As shown in FIGS. 812, the device illustrated is comprised of severalcomponent parts which are designed for easy assembly. Thus, the frontmain component shown in FIG. 8 includes the essentially rectangularfront panel portion 21. The said component 60 shown in FIG. 8, which maybe of strong cardboard, plastic or other suitable material, preferablyalso includes an integral pair of shoulders 25, 26, a neck portion 27and a head 28. The component 60 also includes a lower portion 34 witha'series of holes 35 therein. Upon assembly, the lower portion 34 isfolded along the dot and dash line 36 and forms part of the bottom 23.

As shown in FIG. 10, the device includes a rear main component 61 whichis a mirror image of the front component 60 (so that likeparts areindicated by prime numbers). Component 61 includes the front panelportion 21 and is fashioned with shoulders 25, 26, a neck portion 27 andhead portion 28.. The component 6] also includes a lower portion 34which has holes therein 35'. The lower portion 34' is designed to befolded along the line 36 to form a part 34' ofthe base as indicated inFIGS. 4 and 6, for example.

When the device is assembled, the said base portions 34 and 34 arefolded and the front and rearsurfaces 21 and 21' are inclined towardeach other. The base portions 34, 34' are held together by a rubber bandor other suitable connecting means 37 and secured about the heads ofbrass connectors 57 which are inserted-in holes 35, 35.

A side portion 38 is insertedas best shown in FIG. 6. The portion 38 isequipped with a'series of flaps 39-44. The flaps 39, 40 and 41 aredesigned to pass through and be engaged by slots 30, 31 and 32respectively in the front panel 21. If desired, connectors 58 may beused to secure the flap to the portion 21.

Similarly, the side portion 38 has flaps 42, 43 and 44 which aredesigned to pass through slots 30', 31' and 32' of the rear panel 21'.Thus, as shown best in FIG. 6, the side portion 38 almost completelyencloses the left side of the triangular device.

As shown in FIG. 7 the device may also be provided with a right sideportion 45 having flaps 47 and 48 designed to fit engagingly withinslots 33 and 33' respectively, formed in the panels 21 and 21. Theportion 45 has an integral extension base 46 which forms part of thebase 23 of the device when the portion 45 is folded upwardly along thedot and dash line 50, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 7, for example.

As shown in FIG. 6, the interior of the device is an opening 55 whichmay be used for storage purposes.

The panels 21 and 21' of the device 20 are joined along line 24 andconnected by glue or other suitable connector means. If desired, aninsert 52 having shoulders, neck and head portions of the same size asthose of the components 60 and 61 may be placed between said componentportions to provide additional strength and stability to the upper partof the structure. In either event, the device is formed with an upperportion having humanoid-like shoulders 25, 26, neck and head.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the combination garmenthanger or rack and container of the present invention which I call aClutter Hopperprovides a uniquely attractive garment rack and containerfor associated articles, particularly for small children. The variouspanels may be provided in bright colors and, as indicated, the headportion 28 may be printed, painted etc. in the form of a human face. Allof this is quite attractive to small children.

The device encourages small children to neatly hang up their garments.For example, it has particular utility for elementary schools,especially during the colder months when children come to school clothedin hats, outer coats, boots and carrying gloves and umbrellas. On suchoccasions, the children can be readily taught to place the hat on thehead 28; to place their coat about the shoulders 25, 26; and to puttheir boots, umbrella and gloves inside the container in the open area55. The articles in the space 55 are retained by the triangular sideportion 38 and by the smaller side portion 45. Because the latterportion 45 extends only about a third of the way up the right side ofthe device, the remaining two-thirds are open so as to provide anopening wherein the boots and other various articles may be inserted.

The device of the present invention is a design solution to a number ofproblems which conventional coat racks present to young children.

For example, coat hangers, hooks and the like often have sharp edges,hard protrusions or points which present a safety hazard to youngchildren. In addition, these conventional devices are often toodifficult a challenge to the manual dexterity and patience of very youngchildren.

As indicated, moreover, young children carry a number of articles,particularly in cold weather, which must be safely deposited when thechild goes into school or returns to the home. These include scarves,mittens, leggings, boots, umbrellas, hats, books and other similaritems. The present device provides a place for each child where suchitems may be kept.

Presently used devices are not designed to encourage young children tohang up their garments and other similar articles. Indeed, it isdifficult to encourage a young child to hang up his coat and tootherwise keep track of his things. However, when presented with aClutter Hopper according to the present invention, the child is given adevice of substantial utilitarian function which is easy for him tolearn to use. Because the device can be produced in attractive colorswith a dolllike or humanoid head and face, the child is attracted to itand, ot a certain extent, will be encouraged to dress" the device bymeans of carefully removing his or her own garments and placing themupon the Clutter Hopper.

The present invention is preferably made from the five components shownin FIGS. 812 and can be made of corrugated, cardboard, plastic or othersuitable material. Preferably, the material, like cardboard, is suchthat is can be conveniently folded. l have found that corrugatedcardboard which can be folded into a 24 inch X 14 inch X 3 inchrectangle is particularly convenient for shipping and storage. In thismanner, the device can be easi!y assembled by the consumer. The bottomcan be quickly fastened together by means of a connector 37 which may bea rubber band. Brass paper fasteners 57 may be inserted through theholes 35. Similarly. such fasteners 57 may be used to secure the flaps39-44 and 47 and 48.

The cardboard may be provided with a plastic coating in a variety ofattractive colors which may also provide a degree of water resistanceand to smooth rough edges.

Furthermore, the garment hanger-container of the present invention islight in weight and is devoid of any sharp protrusions which may presentsafety hazards.

The device can be made inexpensively with existing materials. It is astrong structure which can absorb the rough handling often associatedwith a small child. In addition, the device is easily disposable when itis finally worn out.

As indicated, the device also serves to function as a teaching tool.That is, the child dresses the Clutter Hopper when he hangs up his coatand hat and places his scarf around the neck. In doing these tasks he isreinforcing the manner in which he is being taught to dress himself.

The device is further advantageous in that it can be made in a size andscale which approximates that of the small child and which, therefore,the child can identify and relate to. In a sense, it is a colorfulfriend" who wears his coat and hat and holds his belongings when he isnot using them. It is, in addition, a helper to the mother and teacherwho no longer must spend a great deal of time looking for scatteredbelongings which must be picked up after the child has deposited them ina random fashion.

If desired, the device may be manufactured and sold without colorationor facial illustration. When this is done, the child may then take partin creating the face and the body by painting and coloring. The childmay also put his name on the device. In this manner, it becomes part ofthe learning experience which the child helps to create. At the sametime, as indicated, it is something which gives the child a sense ofindividual pride and self-esteem in the classroom setting and helps tobuild pride and ability in taking care of himself and his belongingswherever he is.

The invention has further advantages:

The device assists the child in learning parts of the body throughrecognition and drawing of eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, hair, etc.

The child is assisted in learning colors because he can decorate thedevice.

The garment hanger-container teaches the child manual dexterity andsmall motor skills.

The child is assisted in learning to take care of his possissions andnot to lose or misplace them or throw them around carelessly.

The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of myinvention. However, the concepts employed may, based upon suchdescription, be employed in other embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the Following claims are intendedto protect the invention broadly, as well as in the specific forms shownherein.

I claim:

1. A combination garment hanger and container for placement upon a flooror other flat surface comprising:

a. a flat base adapted to rest upon the said floor or other surface,said base having front and rear edges, and opposing side edges;

b. said base including an integral front panel portion extending fromthe front edge of said base upwardly and inwardly over the base, andterminating in an upper portion forming a shoulder, neck and head;

c. said base further including an integral rear panel portion extendingfrom the rear edge of said base upwardly and inwardly over the base, andterminating in an upper portion forming a shoulder, neck and head;

d. said front and rear panel portions being substane. the front and rearpanels having a series of slots;

f. a first side member of substantially triangular shape extendingbetween said front and rear panels and substantially closing off oneside of the triangular body unit;

g. a second side member extending between said front and rear panels,said second side member being spaced from said first side member andhaving a generally trapezoidal shape;

h. said side members including tab means for engaging said slots in saidfront and rear panels; and means securing said tab means to the panelhaving the slot through which is extends, whereby said side members aremaintained in engaging relationship with said front and rear panels.

1. A combination garment hanger and container for placement upon a flooror other flat surface comprising: a. a flat base adapted to rest uponthe said floor or other surface, said base having front and rear edges,and opposing side edges; b. said base including an integral front panelportion extending from the front edge of said base upwardly and inwardlyover the base, and terminating in an upper portion forming a shoulder,neck and head; c. said base further including an integral rear panelportion extending from the rear edge of said base upwardly and inwardlyover the base, and terminating in an upper portion forming a shoulder,neck and head; d. said front and rear panel portions being substantiallyidentical to each other; the shoulder, neck and head portions of thepanels being connected in facing relationship; so that said rear panelis in contact with said front panel at a location above the base,thereby forming a triangular body unit having a hollow interior; e. thefront and rear panels having a series of slots; f. a first side memberof substantially triangular shape extending between said front and rearpanels and substantially closing off one side of the triangular bodyunit; g. a second side member extending between said front and rearpanels, said second side member being spaced from said first side memberand having a generally trapezoidal shape; h. said side members includingtab means for engaging said slots in said front and rear panels; andmeans securing said tab means to the panel having the slot through whichit extends, whereby said side members are maintained in engagingrelationship with said front and rear panels.